Machine for continuous centrifugal casting



Jan 9, 1934- R. H. EURICH El AL MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS CENTRIFUGAL CASTING 3 Sheeis-Sheet -1 Original Filed May '7, 1930 v m m v A kw mm m .Ou N mm W m .n r m n .l N NM NM x a om 2 6H SW6? 1%. 5w 5 1 L u .m FN n. 0.",NN WNQ N M Zhmentors Richard H.Eur -ich Benjamin F. Anfhony Jan.'9, 1 934. RPH. EURICH ET AL 1,942,919

MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS CENTRIFUGAL CASTING I Y Original Filed May 7, 1950. -3 Sheets-sheaf, 2

M 7 9a mm 82 fulggilll v Richard HQEurich Benjamin F. Anfhony Q Zinnntoys I I tomes.

Jan. 9, 1934. R. H. EURICH El AL v MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS CENTRIFUGAL CASTING Original Filed May '7, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3twentors Richard H. Efirich 1; Benjamin F. Anfhony Cittomeg Patented Jan 9, 3934 UNITED STAES PATENT OFFlCE EL ACHKNE FOR CONTKNUOUS CENTRIFUGAL CASTING Original application May 7, 1930, Serial No. 450,339. Divided and this application May 20, 1932. Serial No.612,51l

12 Claims.

This application is a division of Letters Patent 1,864,270 issued to us June 21, 1932, and entitled "Method of continuous centrifugal casting.

Ourinvention relates to the art of making centrifugal castings and to a novel method of making such castings continuously or in a cyclic manner as claimed in said patent whereby they may be produced with maximum rapidity and economy, the invention more particularly being especially suitable for, but not confined to, the production of steel ingots of relatively large size intended for subseque'nt. manufacture into pipes and tubes.

Our invention further includes the provision of a machine as claimed herein adapted for the performance of the said method and which we prefer to use in the practice of thesame, although if desired other forms of machines or apparatus suitable therefor may be employed.

hereinafter more particularly pointed out or will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of one manner of performing our said-method by means of a machine or apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention and which, in its preferred embodiment,

as well as in a modified form, wehaveillustrated' in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification.

To facilitatea thorough understanding of our invention we shall first refer in a very general way to the series of principal steps or operations incident to the preferred practise of our said a continuous or cyclic method as employed in the production of a series of hollow cylindrical ingots and shall then more particularly describe the construction of the said machines and their operation when used in the performance thereof.

Thus, for the practice of the method we provide a plurality of hollow cylindrical molds whose internal diameter corresponds with the external diameter of the ingots to be formed therein. At one end each mold is provided-with an inwardly directed web or flange desirably integral with the mold and having a circular opening in its center which is of less diameter than the internal diameter of the desired ingot, and at its opposite end with a retaining ring,.also of less internal diameter than the ingot, which removably seats in the end of the mold to form an annular. dam for thefiuid metal these rings are preferably disposed in the molds before the latter are brought to the charging or pouring station as hereinafter more fully. described. Thus the length of each mold exceeds the maximum length of the ingot it is designed'to produce by an amount approxi- -mating the combined thickness of the flange and rmg. v

The molds after suitable preparation for the reception of the molten metal and with the rings assembled in position are consecutively brought to the pouring station and there axially rotated at a suitable speed and, ,under certain conditions, with their axes slightly inclined to the horizontal. A quantity of the molten metal suflicient to form the ingot is then run into the rotating mold through the opening .in the webbed end thereof by means of a pouring spout introduced into the opening at the center of the web so as to properly guide the molten metal into the mold as it is received. in: the spout from the ladle suspended thereabove, and. as the metal is received in the rotating mold .it is distributed and compacted Other objects, advantages and novel operations and features comprehended by our invention are uniformly throughout the interior thereof by centrifugal force, the axial inclination of the mold if employed assisting in effecting a more rapid distribution of the metal lengthwise of the mold, so that by the time sufficient metal has been introduced to form an ingot of the desired wall thickness, the fluid metal has assumed a hollow cylindrical form and has been thoroughly compacted against the mold wall. The inflow of metal is then discontinued and the mold while still "rotating is translated substantially axially by suitable mechanism to a new position in which its rotation is continued while the pouring of the following mold is carried out. This following mold is then in turn longitudinally translated to the position previously assumed by the leading mold and the latter thus projected forwardly and while rotating to still another position, and it will thus be apparent that the filled molds are consecutively moved away from the pouring station with a step-by-step motion while continuously rotating about their own axes and that during this stage or period of progressive though intermittent movement the ingots are gradually solidifying in the molds. Thus when the leading mold has progressed for a distance and through an interval of time sufficient to permit its contained ingot to become solid or substantially-so, that mold is given one more longitudinal movement of translation to thereby carry it to a stripping station where its axial rotation is discontinued and the ingot and retaining ring lon-. gitudinally stripped from the mold by suitable stripping mechanism, after which the ingot is in condition for transportation to some other point preliminary to further operations thereon which axial movement but extending in the opposite or reverse direction so as to finally bring the mold to a station in substantial transverse alignment with the pouring station, the mold meanwhile being cooled by exposure to the atmosphere or in any other suitable way to a point at which it is in proper condition to receive a fresh: charge of the molten metal. Finally, from this last mentioned station the mold is transferred,;preferably by a transverse movement, to the -pouring station inposition-toireceivea second charge of fluid metal, thereby completing the cycle.

Thus in accordance with the preferred-practice of our method, whenever a moldiis disposed-at the pouring station, other rotating molds containing ingots in a gradually increasingstate. of solidification are disposed in advance thereof,

another mold is disposed at the stripping station where the solidified ingot is being stripped therefrom, one or more molds are being prepared: for casting, and still other molds; suitably prepared for casting, are disposed. on the cooling table preparatory to consecutive-transfer to'the pouring station in the progress of the cycle.

We shall now describe more particularly certain machines, as illustratedsinthe accompanying drawings, constructed in accordance with our invention and suitable for performing the various steps and operations comprehended by our said method of. continuously centrifugally casting hollow ingots, Fig. 1 being a top plan view, with certain parts in horizontalseetion, of

that form of machine which under most: circumstances we prefer to employ andEig. 2 being a front. elevation thereof with. certainparts shown in vertical section, the pouring. spout= and. adjacent parts being shown in the position 88-- sumed while a mold is beingpoured; Fig.13ail a fragmentary detail plan view' generally-cob responding to Fig. 1' but showingthehpom'ing spout and adjacent parts in tha pmitiom as--' sumed after a mold has been poured;'Fig. 4-isza= transverse vertical section of the'machine'on; the

line 4-4 in Fig. 1, and:Fig. 5 is-a corresponding section on the line 5-5 in said figure. In Figs.

6 and "7 we have shown a slightlymodifled form."

of machine, Fig. 6 beings verticalzsection thereof on line 66'in Fig. 7 and'Fig; 7 a top-plan view, generally correspondingto. Fig. 1,

certain parts shown in horizontal: section, thestripping mechanism and adjaeentr parts being omitted'in both of these figuresas'the same-arefully shown in-the preceding-figures; Like char-- acters of reference are used to designate com spending parts throughout the drawings, andithe directions in which the various sectionali views are taken are indicated by the arrows on the-sec-- tion lines.

Primarily it should-be understood that as the machines embody numerous means-and mechanisms in common use in the steelzand'other-industries for the performance of certain functions analogous or similar to those for. which they areemployed in our machines, detailed illustration and description thereof would be superfluous and of no advantage in contributing to a proper and adequate compr'ehensionof our invention; therefore, the said'drawings may with respect to the details of such means and mechanisms, be considered as diagrammatic or substantially so, being neither designed nor intended to specifically illustrate the same.

The machine shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive comprises a pair of parallel rolls 11 suitably journaledfor'rotationv in pedestals 2-2 disposed adjacent theends of the rolls. These'pedestals in turnare. desirably supported on a platform 3 which, for a purpose hereinafter described, may be so mountedthat" one end thereof may be elevated to thereby-slightly incline the axes of the rolls; Preferably; therefore, the platform is supported adjacent one end on a horizontal trunnion shaft 4 extending transversely of and below the:platform. and carried by a pedestal 5,- thereby providing an. axis-about which the. opposite end ofthe platform can be raised or lowered by suitable means disposed. adjacent: and" beneath a cam shaft 7 carried;

said end;such:as:cams.6 on by apedestal 8-; thusv by rotating-the cam shaft the adjacent end of the platform maybe lifted to an. extent determined by the throw of:the cams" to thereby incline theplatform. downwardly from left .toright when viewed asin Figs. 1 and 2.

The platform is preferably disposed in-a pit'10' inthe floor of the building'in which the machine is housed and of such depth that the upper surface of the; platform is substantially-level with said fioorrupon which those parts of the machine" not carried by the platform are supported.

Adjacent. its left hand. end,. the platform. is

provided: with longitudinally-spaced 11 on.

which is mounted a table 12- for reciprocation transversely of the platform. This table i serves to: support the pour g spout'13'through which the-'fluid. metal. isv introduced to the molds, the

spout which-is formed entirely of or linedwith suitable-refractory material; beingv approximately cupshapediand-provided near the bottom witha:

runner liextending-towards the. rolls 1-1. The spoutz-iszarrangedforhunted reciprocation in: a direction generally paralleli to the axes of the rolls: 1-1, convenientlyby supportingthe spouton a block 15 in turn seated ona plunger 16:;

slidable inguidesl'lcarried-by the -table and-conneeted toa piston rod: 19: and fluid"- actuated ill piston-20in a cylinder 21supp0rted on the table.

The table-12ris also operative-to support a ram, generallyv designated as R; by means of whichthe molds can: be

pushed longitudinally: along" the-rolls as hereinafter described; this ram' may comprisea cylinder 25 containinga piston 26 whoserod27 extendsparaliel to the axis-of the rollsand' at the end'adjacent'thereto isprovide'd-with aahead 28. The ram is positioned at onesideof the pouringspout and either the spout on the-ram can be brought into alignment with theimold'atthe pouring station whendesired by moving'the table transverselyof the platform by-any convenient mechanism such, for example,-

as a cylinder 29 containing a fluid actuated piston whose rod 30 isconnected with the-table.

The rolls 1-1; are driven in the same direction by any-suitable means such as a motor 32 disposed on the platform and connected with sprockets the roll shafts by silent chain" 33; or bymotors which form an integral part of'the rolls in the manner frequently employed in drivingiheavy rolls-in; the steel and allied industries. 1

' adjacent the end of the rolls 1-1 in axial alignment with said rolls, is anonther pair of rolls 35-35 iournaled for rotation in pedestals 36 carried by the platform and driven in the same direction as'but independently ofthe rolls l-l by suitable means such as a motor 37 and silent'chain 38. These rolls form a receiving station for the ingot molds as they are respectively moved from the rolis'l-l as hereinafter described and also support the molds while the ingots are being stripped therefrom, during which operation they are held stationary by shutting oil the motor 37 or other driving means.

Beyond that end oLthe rolls -35 remote from the rolls 1-1, strippin means are provided for stripping the ingots longitudinally from the molds as they are supported on the rolls 35-35, said means desirably comprising a stripping table, generally designated as 40, and adapted to receive the ingot as it is withdrawn from the mold; this table is supported on the platform 3 and adjacent the rolls is provided with an annular oriother suitable stop 41 to prevent the ingot mold from moving longitudinally while the ingot is being withdrawn, the stop having an opening aligned with the axis of the molds of sufficient diameter to permit the ingot to be the manner clearly shown in Figs. 1- and 2.

For engaging and withdrawing the ingot any suitable means may be employed, the particular,

embodiment thereof which we have chosen to plunger 45 having expansible jaws 46 at its forward end adaptedto bite into the inner wall of the ingot after they have been projected into its bore. Upon the plunger 45 is mounted an internally threaded bevel gear 47 prevented from 1ongitudinal movement by a guide 48 carried by that ping table, a pivoted U-shaped skid 52 is ar-- ranged beneath it to extend transversely of the platform to other skids 32' extending away from the machine to' a point, such as a soaking furnace or tube mill, at which the ingot is to be subjected to further treatment, and means such as a cylinder 53 having a fluid actuated vertically movable piston and piston rod are arranged in association with the skid in such manner that the latter can be raised about its pivots 54 so as to form an inclined plane down which the ingot can roll to the stationary skids 52' after'the upward movement of the U-shaped skid has first lifted the ingot from the stripping table.

After the ingot has been stripped from the mold. the latter is transferred from the rolls 35-35 to another pair of rolls 60-60 journaled in pedestals 61 disposed on the floor of the building in rear of the pit 10; these rolls are in transverse alignment with the rolls 35-35 and are independently driven, preferably in the same direction as the latter, by suitable means such as a motor 63 and silent chain 64.

For transferring the molds from one set of rolls to the other, a U-shaped skid 65 generally similar to the skid 52 already described may be employed, the free ends of the skid being pivoted at 66 on suitable supports on the floor beyond the drawn therethrough and away from the mold inillustrate comprising an externally threaded rolls -60 which, together with the rolls 35-35, are thus surrounded by the skid. while for raising and lowering the closed end of the skid an actuating cylindero'l havingits piston rod extending upwardly beneath the skid is mounted on the platform, so that by movement of the piston rod at the proper time in the cycle of operations the adjacent end of the skid may be lifted to raise the mold from the rolls 35-35 and then form an inclined plane down which the mold can roll to the rolls 60-60 transversely of the path of the movement by which it was brought to the receiving rolls 35-35.

While the moldis disposed on the rolls 60-60 it iscleaned and prepared for receiving a second charge of metal as hereinafter more fully described and following this preparation is translated longitudinally along a cooling table preferably comprising a series of rotatably mounted longitudinally spaced V-shaped rollers '70 and extending from adjacent the rolls 60-60 to a point or station in substantial transverse alignment with the pouring station adjacent the pouring spout; the rollers or other means forming the cooling table thus constitute a path for the empty molds extending substantially parallel to the rolls l-l of such character that the molds can be readily longitudinally translated therealong with a minimum of friction and consequent exp nditure of power. For moving the molds along the cooling table as well as for ejecting them consecutively from the rolls 60-60, a ram R comprising a cylinder '71 containing a fluid actuated piston '72 carrying a piston rod 73 having adjacent the rolls a head 74 is provided and so disposed that by projecting the head of the ram toward the rolls a mold resting thereon may be translated or pushed longitudinally onto the cooling table, a stop 75 being provided to limit the movement of the leading mold along the latter.

Finally, for transferring the leading, mold on the cooling table to the pouring station after it has been brought into transverse alignment therewith as determined by the stop 75; we provide suitable means such as a U-shaped skid 80 whose arms extend beneath the mold when in said position and are pivoted at their ends to suitable supports 81 carried by the platform in association with stationary skids 80' extending to- 126 ward and partially over the rolls l-l as well as means for elevating the skid 80, such, for example, as a vertical screw 82 extending through an internally threaded lip carried by the skid and driven through bevel gears 83 and a motor 84 disposed on the floor, or a flu d actuated piston and rod as shown in association with the other movable skids already described. whereby the skid may be lifted to first raise the ingot from the cooling table and then form an inclined plane down which it can roll to the stationary skids 80 and thence to the rolls 1-1 on which it rests in axial alignment and frictional engagement therewith. It will, of course be understood that the precise form of elevating means provided for 1&6 this as well as for the other movable skids utilized in the machine is a matter of choice, and thus any means suitable for the purpose may be employed.

A series of ingot molds M is also provided. and while the machine is in operation the molds are led consecutively carried therethrough in the prog-' ress of the cycle, each mold thus being suba'ected to the same successive operations. Desirably all of the molds in each series are of the same size and shape, and each of them, as best shown in Fig. 1, comprises a hollow relatively thick walled tube or cylinder, the internal diameter of which corresponds with the external diameter of the ingot which is to be formed. At one end, which 5 for convenience will be termed the rear end, each mold has an inwardly directed, preferably integral web 90 surrounding a central opening of less diameter than the internal diameter of the ingot which is to be formed in the mold while at its other end a removable retaining ring 91 of less internal diameter than said ingot is seated in the mold cavity to form a dam to prevent the molten metal from running out of that end of the mold. Each ring is secured in its mold at the time the latter is prepared to receive the cast, the particular means or method of holding the ring in position forming no part of the present invention.

We will now briefly describe the operation of such a machine in the practice of our improved method of casting: Assuming that a mold has been disposed on the rolls 1-1 at M with its rear or webbed end adjacent the table 12 and thus ready to receive a charge, the table is first moved across the platform to a point at which the runner of the pouring spout is aligned with the opening in the end of the mold and the spout then entered therein as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A charge of molten metal suflicient to form the desired ingot is then poured into the mold through the spout from a ladle L suspended above the latter and, in order to measure the quantity of metal so introduced, the ladle is desirably so interconnected with a scale or other suitable means (not shown) that the weight of the metal as it is discharged from the ladle can be accurately determined by the operator, thus enabling him to cut off the flow thereof by operating the ladle valve or stopper at the proper time. Since the rolls 1-1 are continuously rotating in the same direction, the mold M is likewise axially rotating throughout the pouring of the charge with the result that the molten metal is distributed outwardly by centrifugal force against the inner wall of the mold and compacted thereagainst, both during the pouring operation proper and for such time thereafter as the metal remains in fluid or plastic condition.

The speed of rotation of the rolls 1-1 and consequently of the mold is determined in practice by numerous factors such as the size of the mold, quantity of metal in the charge, its condition at the moment of pouring and the like, but under usual conditions of operation it is desirable that the rotational speed of the mold be as low as possible commensurate with obtaining the requisite distribution of the metal in the mold.

Where the mold is relatively short, the metal readily distributes itself lengthwise thereof when the mold is in horizontal position, but as the length of the mold is increased for the corresponding production of longer ingots, dimculty is sometimes experienced in getting the metal to properly flow throughout the length of the mold and, under such circumstances, it may therefore be'found desirable to axially incline the mold downwardly from the end where the metal is introduced, a result which can be readily accomplished by suitable manipulation of the cams 6 or other mechanism provided for raising the rear end of the platform so as to incline the same sufficiently to bring about the proper lengthwise distribution of the metalin the mold.

The charge having thus been introduced to the mold, the pouring spout is retracted so as to clear the runner therefrom and the table 12 moved transversely of the platform to align ram R with the end of the mold, following which the ram is operated so as to translate the mold longitudinally along the rolls 1-1 to the position M where, of course, its axial rotation through its frictional engagement with the rolls 1-1 is continued. Another mold is then brought to position M charged, and then translated to the position M in the manner already described, thus moving the leading or preceding mold to the position M both molds still being rotated by the rolls 1-1. A third mold is then moved to M and charged, with the result that three molds are now disposed on the rolls with the metal in the leading mold at M in a much more nearly solidified condition than the metal in the mold at the pouring station while the metal in the mold at M is in a state intermediate of that in the others. While for convenience of illustration we have shown but three molds upon the rolls 1-1, it will of course be understood that the precise number of molds in that position when that point in the cycle to which the present description has proceeded has been reached, in other words, the number of molds on the rolls 1-1 when the leading mold is in position to be transferred to the receiving rolls 35-35, will be determined for any particular machine having rolls 1-1 of a given length by the length of the ingot molds themselves since, where the latter are quite short, a relatively larger number of them can be disposed on the rolls 1-1 than when they are of relatively greater length. But whatever be the number of molds on the rolls 1-1 under any given set of operating conditions, the time interval required for the passage of a given mold from the pouring station to the opposite end of the rolls 1-1 should be so regulated that when the leading mold is ready to transfer to the rolls 35-35, the ingot therein contained is solidified or substantially so, whereby when the mold is received on said rolls the ingot will be in condition to be stripped from the mold or will reach that condition very shortly thereafter.

The rolls 1-1 having thus been filled with charged molds, it will be apparent that the next movement of the ram R will be effective to push the leading mold from position M onto the rolls 35-35 and against or substantially against the stop 41 of the stripping table. Desirably these rolls are rotating in the same direction and at the same speed as the rolls 1-1 when the mold is transferred thereto, as such rotation facilitates the transfer and also continues the appli cation of centrifugal force to the contained ingot while the stripping plunger 45 is being run up toward the mold, now in position M so as to enter the jaws 46 into the end of the ingot preparatory to expanding them therein to cause them to grip the ingot; before the jaws are expanded, however, the rotation of the rolls is arrested so as to permit the jaws to properly grip the ingot, after which the plunger is retracted so as to strip the ingot from the mold, the retaining ring of course being stripped out ahead of the ingot. When the ingot has been moved far enough to align with the skid 52, the jaws are disengaged and the plunger retracted a little farther so as to permit the retaining ring to be recovered for subsequent use; the skid is then raised so as to roll the ingot transversely across the table and onto the stationary skids 52' down which it moves to some suitable point for storage or further treatment, and as soon as the ingot has cleared the movable skid, the latter is lowered to normal position. The empty mold is now resting in position M on the receiving rolls and is immediately transferred by elevating the skid 65 to the rolls 60-60 and, while restingon these rolls (which may be either rotated at any suitable speed or not as desired) is cleaned and otherwise prepared to receive a second cast, this preparation including the insertion of the same or a fresh retaining ring in the end of the mold. The adjacent ram R is now operated so as to move the prepared mold axially from the rolls 60-60 to the adjacent end of the cooling table where it rests in position M until the following molds are successively ejected from said rolls, thus progressively moving the leading mold to positions M and M in which it is transversely aligned with position M which it initially occupied at the pouring station. Consequently as soon as the last mold in the series is cleared from that station, the mold at station M" is transferred thereto by suitable elevation of the skid 80, thus placing that mold in condition to receive a second charge and completing the cycle.

Mention has been made of the desirability under certain conditions of inclining the axes of the molds to facilitate lengthwise distribution of the molten metal as it is being poured, and the machine to which we have referred is therefore preferably arranged to eifect this result by suitable adjustment of the platform supporting the rolls l-l, but as these rolls are thereby inclined throughout their length, all of the molds while resting on them are likewise similarly axially inclined with the result that the metal therein during its gradual solidification tends to flow toward their lower ends; in consequence the wall thickness of the ingots produced under these conditions frequently progressively increases from one end to the other, being thinner at .what was the upper end of the ingot during its period of solidification and thicker toward that which was the lower. Ingots of this character are unsuitable for certain purposes though entirely satisfactory for others and therefore, for the purpose of producing ingots having walls of constant thickness from one end to the other under conditions of operation which dictate or at least make desirable the maintenance of the ingot molds with their axes inclined while being poured, a slightly modified form of machine such as is illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7 and which will now be described may be employed. 4

In this machine the molds at the charging station, that is, in the position M are supported on a pair of rolls -100 which are journaled in pedestals 101 mounted on a frame 102 which is pivoted at 103 on a horizontal pivot or trunnion extending transversely of the machine; the frame is thus capable of being raised and lowered vertically about said pivot by operation of suitable means such as fluid actuated pistons contained in cylinders 104 disposed beneath the frame at the end thereof remote from the pivot and connected with piston rods 105 extending vertically upward to the frame and so arranged that the frame may be held in any desired position of vertical adjustment. Instead of fluid actuated pistons and rods, screw jacks or other similar means may be employed for the purpose. These rolls 100-100 are independently driven so as to rotate in the same direction by any suitable driving means such as silent chains 106 and a motor 10'? supported from the frame and are thus operative to impart axial rotation to the mold when imposed thereon during the charging operation in the manner already described. It will thus be apparent that by suitable operation of the frame elevating means, any desired angular inclination of the roll axes. within limits, may be attained with corresponding inclination of the superposed mold at M while the metal is being poured and for the purpose of enabling a corresponding adjustment of the height of the pouring spout and runner, the former may bedisposed at the upper end of a vertically disposed screw 110 extending through an internally threaded collar 111 seated on a block 112 adapted for longitudinal reciprocation on the table 12 and connected with the piston rod 19 piston 20 and actuating cylinder 21 carried by the table as heretofore described; thus, by revolving the collar 111, the spout may be raised or lowered to bring the runner into alignment with the opening in the adjacent mold in accordance with its degree of elevation.

The rolls 1-1 along which the molds are translated while the ingots are cooling, as already described, are thus in this form of the machine independent from the rolls 100-100 and are independently driven. They may therefore be made correspondingly shorter and are permanently mounted in a horizontal position so that as the molds pass along these rolls the mold axes are also horizontal, thus negativing any tendency for the contained metal to flow toward one end or the other of the molds while it is solidifying, said metal because of the angular disposition of the molds while the metal was being poured having been properly distributed lengthwise in the molds with approximate accuracy; additionally, the further continued rotation of the molds while their axes are horizontal and after they have been transferred to the rolls 1-1 tends to equalize any slight inequalities in the previous lengthwise distribution of the metal with resultant production of ingots of uniform wall thickness throughout their length.

Since the molds when in position M on the rolls 100-100 are axially inclined downwardly towards the rolls 1-1, there is some tendency for the molds to move away from the pouring spout duringthe pouring operation and we therefore provide means for preventing such movement, said means desirably comprising a roller 115 disposed at the end of a plunger 116 and reciprocable by a piston 117 in a cylinder 118 suitably supported in such position that the plunger extends transversely of the line of movement of the rolls between the molds at M and M so as to bring the roller 115 against the end of the mold at the pouring station when the plunger is projected and to withdraw the roller from alignment with the mold when the plunger is retracted.

In this form of machine the principal elements,

except the frame 102 supporting the rolls 100- 100 may preferably be disposed, as shown in the drawings, on suitable pedestals or bases fixed on the floor of the building in which the machine is located instead of mounting some of them on a platform vertically movable relatively to the floor as heretofore described, and the rear end of the pedestal which carries the rolls 1-1 employed as a point of support for. the hinged frame 102.

It will of course be understood that the machine now being described is also provided with rolls 35-35 for receiving the molds from the rolls 1-1, with stripping means, means for transferring the empty molds to a station where they are prepared for the succeeding cast, cooling table and means for transferring the molds therefrom to the charging station similarly to the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5,. inclusive, all preferably of the character of those referred to in connection therewith and operating in a substantially similar way; said means therefore require no further description and for convenience of illustration certain of them have been omitted from Figs. 6 and 7.

It is thought that the operation of the said machine will be readily apparent without extended description, but it may be mentioned in passing that where the axial inclination of the rolls -100 is considerable, it will usually be found desirable to lower the frame 102 to substantially horizontal position before withdrawing the retaining roller 115 preparatory to translating the charged mold to the rolls 1-1, and to thereafter maintain the frame in such position until the succeeding mold is disposed on the rolls 100-100, but where the axial inclination of the molds during the pouring of the metal is relatively slight the frame, after being once angularly adjusted, can usually be kept in the same position throughout the cycle. It will furthermore be apparent that in both of the machines to which we have referred, the molds can be disposed during the pouring operation horizontally where it is found that suitable lengthwise distribution of the metal in the molds will take place under such condition or in inclined position where required or desirable for effecting such distribution, and that ingots of different sizes and wall thickness may be cast in either machine by employing different sizes of molds either of the same or of different external diameters, although in the latter case some vertical adjustment of the pouring spout and runner may be required.

Thus, in accordance with our cyclic or continuous method of centrifugal casting as performed by means of machines such as we have described, or by other machines suitable for the purpose, we are enabled to rapidly and. economically produce shapes or ingots of satisfactory character for the further uses for which they are intended and at a minimum of expense.

As we believe our invention constitutes a distinct advance in the art, it is our purpose to claim the same broadly and we therefore do not desire or intend to limit or confine ourselves to the use of any specific mechanism or instrumentalities for the performance of our said method or to any precise details of design, construction and arrangement of the various elements which we have chosen to illustrate and describe as component parts of the machines herein disclosed as suitable therefor, for the same may be modified in numerous particulars as dictated by the varying conditions of operation under which the machines are to be employed or for such other reasons as may be desired without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. A machine for producing castings centrifugally, comprising a pair of rolls, a series of molds respectively adapted to rest on said rolls for rotation thereby, means for introducing molten metal to each mold as the molds are consecutively brought to a predetermined position adjacent one end of said rolls, and. means for traversing the molds toward opmsite 551d after each mold has received its charge.

2. A machine for producing castings centrifugally, comprising a pair of rolls, a series of molds respectively adapted to rest on said rolls for rotation thereby, means for introducing molten metal to each mold as the molds are consecutively brought to a predetermined position adjacent one end of said rolls, and means for traversing the molds toward the opposite end of the rolls after each mold has received its charge and while still rotating.

3. A machine for producing castings centrifugally, comprising a pair of rolls, a plurality of molds respectively adapted to rest on said rolls for rotation thereby, means for moving the molds along the rolls, means adapted to direct molten metal into the molds as they are consecutively disposed adjacent one end of said rolls, and means adjacent the opposite end of said rolls for stripping from the molds the castings formed therein by solidification of said metal while the molds are being moved along the rolls.

4. A machine for producing castings centrifugally, comprising a series of molds, means for supporting and rotating the molds as they are consecutively positioned at a pouring station, means for introducing molten metal into the molds while rotating at said station, means for moving the molds while rotating away from said 105 station in a substantially rectilinear path to another station, and stripping means adjacent said last mentioned station adapted to strip from the molds the castings formed therein by solidification of the fluid metal during the passage of the molds thereto.

5. A machine for producing castings centrifugally, comprising a series of cylindrical molds, means for supporting and rotating the molds as they are consecutively positioned at a pouring station, means for introducing molten metal into the molds while rotating at said station, means for moving the molds away from said station to another station while continuing their rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, stripping means adjacent said last mentioned station adapted to strip from the molds the castings formed therein by solidification of the fluid metal during the movement of the molds from one station to the other, means for consecutively moving the empty molds from said stripping means to a station laterally disposed with respect to the path followed by the molds in their first mentioned movement,- and means for moving the molds therefrom in the opposite direction to a position substantially aligned with the pouring sta- 6. A machine for producing castings centrifugally, comprising a series of molds adapted for consecutive disposition at a pouring station, means for supporting the molds at said station with their axes inclined at a slight angle to the horizontal, means for pouring molten metal into the upper ends of said molds at said station, mold conveying means extending away from said 0 station and operative to rotate the molds when disposed thereon, means for moving the poured molds along said conveying means, means adjacent the end of the conveying means remote from the pouring station for receiving said molds 1 5 from the conveyor, and means for stripping the castings from said molds while at said receivconsecutive disposition at a pouring station, means for supporting the molds at said station with their axes inclined at a slight angle to the horizontal, means for pouring molten metal into the upper ends of said molds at said station, mold conveying means extending away from said station and operative to rotate the molds when disposed thereon, means for moving the poured molds along said conveying means, means ad jacent the end of the conveying means remote from the pouring station for receiving said molds from the conveyor, means for stripping the castings from said molds while at said receiving station, and means for returning the empty molds to the pouring station.

8. A machine for producing castings centrifugally, comprising a series of molds adapted for consecutive disposition at a pouring station, means for positioning the molds at said station with their axes inclined at a slight angle to the horizontal, means for pouring molten metal into the upper ends of said molds at said station, mold conveying means extending away from said station and operative to rotate the molds when disposed thereon, means for moving the poured molds along said conveying means, means adjacent the end of the conveying means remote from the pouring station for receiving said molds from the conveyor, means for stripping the castings from said molds while at said receiving station, means for moving theempty molds transversely away from the stripping means, means for receiving the molds at the termination of said movement, and means for thereafter moving the molds in a direction opposite to their initial movement to a station substantially aligned with the pouring station.

9. A machine for producing castings centrifugally, comprising a series of molds adapted for consecutive disposition at a pouring station, means for supporting the molds at said station with their axes inclined at a slight angle to the horizontal, means for pouring molten metal into the upper ends of said molds at said station, mold conveying means extending away from said station and operative to rotate the molds when disposed thereon, means for moving the poured.

stantially aligned with the pouring station, and

means for transferring the molds from the last mentioned station to the pouring station.

10. A machine for producing castings centrifugally, comprising mold rotating means, a series of molds respectively adapted to be consecutively rotated by said means, means for introducing molten metal to each mold when brought to a predetermined position with respect to said rotating means and while being rotated thereby, and means for moving the rotating mold along a substantially horizontal path to another position with respect to said rotating means after it has received its charge.

11. A machine for producing castings centrifu- 10d gally comprising means for pouring the metal to be cast, a hollow cylindrical mold, means for rotating the mold adjacent said pouring means in a longitudinally fixed position while the mold is receiving a charge of metal therefrom, and means for moving the charged mold away from said pouring means in a substantially horizontal path while maintaining it in a state of rotation.

12. A machine for producing castings centrifugally in hollow cylindrical molds, comprising means for positioning the molds consecutively in g a predetermined longitudinally fixed position, means for rotating each mold about its axis when in said position, means for pouring molten metal into the rotating mold at said position, means for moving the rotating mold in a substantially horizontal path to another position with respect to said pouring means, and means for thereafter supporting and continuously rotating the mold until its charge has solidified.

RICHARD H. EURICH. BENJAMIN F. ANTHONY. 

